No-return container for beer and other liquids



Sept. 23, 1969 E. WEBEL 3,468,450

NO-RETURN CONTAINER FOR BEER AND OTHER LIQUIDS Filed Aug. 18, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1

Edmund Webel INVENTOR.

5- WEBEL NO-RETURN CONTAINER FOR BEER AND OTHER LIQUIDS Filed Aug. 18, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet Edmund we INVENTOR SS g. R Attorney United States Patent 3,468,450 NO-RETURN CONTAINER FOR BEER AND OTHER LIQUIDS Edmund Webel, Krkelingheide 24, Essen-Heisingen, Germany Filed Aug. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 661,589 Claims priority, application Germany, Aug. 20, 1966, St 25,782; June 6, 1967, St 26,976 Int. Cl. B65d 17/08, 39/12, 7/42 US. Cl. 22027 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE My present invention relates to so-called one-way and no-return containers for the transportation, storage, marketing and dispensing of beverage liquids such as beer and, more particularly, to a disposable beer receptacle which may serve as a dispenser for a number of draughts and nevertheless does not need to be returned to the brewer for refilling.

In recent years, a relatively large variety of packaging products for the storage, distribution and marketing of beer have been proposed to facilitate one-way distribution thereof. This term is used hereinafter to refer to the sale of the sealed container of beer to the ultimate consumer who, after draining the container, may dispose of it. Thus, such containers contrast with earlier distribution packages which required beer casks, barrels and kegs to be returned by the consumer to the brewer for refilling, or bottles which carried a deposit recoverable only upon return of the bottle to the brewer. Such returns and refilling operations Were required by the relatively high cost of the containers so that, by comparison with the container cost, the expenses for cleaning, recovering and refilling the reusable vessels were minor. As noted earlier, the entire packaging industry has attempted to overcome the disadvantages of reusable containers by providing unit packages which may be thrown away after use. Thus the glass and metal industries have proposed throw-away bottles and nonreusable cans for this purpose while some efforts have also been made to provide plastic or syntheticresin packaging materials for similar purposes. The glass industry, for example, has invested considerable energy in the automation, design, improvement of glass quality, reduction of Wall thickness, etc. of throw-away bottles in efforts to minimize production costs. The other packaging industries have engaged in similar endeavors.

It will be understood that these efforts are based upon the substantial advantages gained when no-return disposable containers are used in place of refillable receptacles. Firstly, it is possible to avoid the large storage areas necessary for the empty vessels and cases, and the investment in empty containers, storage facilities and the like. In this connection, it must be understood that the number of empty containers, cases, etc. must be determined by the maximum demand for the product and frequently, in off-seasons, the reduced demand gives rise to large quantities of storable containers which neither are used nor participate in productive efforts.

Secondly, reusable container systems require relatively expensive cleaning installations as well as upkeep and labor costs which are avoided when freshly manufactured disposed receptacles are employed. Problems arising from the media used in the cleaning process (i.e. detergents, etc.) are also eliminated and it has been found to be possible to dispense with inspection stations which have hitherto been necessary to detect contaminants within reusable vessels and micro-organisms capable of causing deterioration of the beer. It is even possible to reduce to a minimum the cost of repairing the cases used to distribute the containers since they need not carry empty containers back to the bottling plant.

Other advantages arise from the elimination of the need for sterilization of the container or the completed package, of labeling systems and machines since the oneway containers can be embossed with the identifying matter, with the high cost of moving the empty containers and the packaged product and with the efforts and expenses required by the returns. For the consumer, there is no need to carry the container back to the distributor.

Glass has been found to be a particularly good packaging material for the production of beer containers since it is totally inert to beer and neither affects the beverage nor is affected by it. It has, however, the important disadvantage that it is easily broken and is usually translucent. This translucency is most inconvenient because beer is sensitive to light and, when contained in glass bottles, frequently deteriorates in the presence of strong illumination. Efiorts to replace glass bottles with these disadvantages, by white metal internally lacquered cans, have not proved to be wholly satisfactory since the beer contained therein develops, over prolonged storage periods, a metallic taste. Thus, it has been proposed to substitute aluminum cans for the white-metal tins since aluminum does not impart the characteristic metallic taste to beer. When the beer is of the acidic type, even aluminum creates substantial problems because of the interaction of the acid with the aluminum metal and the consequent generation of hydrogen which reduces the beer and discolors it. Suggestions as to the avoidance of these difiiculties by the use of vessels composed of synthetic resins have not proved of general satisfaction even though the synthetic resins do not transfer any taste-affecting substances to the beer. It has not, to my knowledge, been possible heretofore to use effectively the inert character of synthetic resin for the production of no-return beer packages because of the complexities involved in sealing and filling the packages, etc. Thus, use of prior syntheticresin vessels for the packaging of beer has generally been confined to taverns and dispensing stations from which the relatively large-sized vessels were returned to the brewery for refilling.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved container for the packaging of beer suitable for the no-return distortion directly to consumers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a beer canister from which numerous draughts may be drawn but yet which is of low cost and value so as to permit disposal after use.

I have now found that the disadvantages of prior-art containers for the distribution and marketing of beer directly to the consumer can be obviated with a relatively small-size vessel (i.e. having a beer-containing capacity of 8 liters or less) which is generally of barrel-like configuration and has its annular outwardly bulging wall, preferably patterned by molding to a wood-stave finish, integral and unitarily molded in one piece with a pair of end walls; the annular wall is formed with a bunghole into which a stopper is sealingly inserted while one of the end walls is provided, preferably adjacent a portion of the annular wall diametrically opposite the bunghole,

with a weakened zone rupturable upon insertion of a dispensing cock which may be lodged within a tapered socket formed about this weakened zone. The resulting vessel can be used for repeated draughts of the liquid, is easily and inexpensively manufactured, filled, transported and emptied and, being wholly formed of opaque synthetic resin, can be discarded after removal of the reusable cock.

In accordance with a more specific feature of this invention, the means defining the bunghole in the wall of the receptacle includes an outer circular ridge of an axial thickness exceeding the wall thickness of the container and preferably at least twice the wall thickness thereof while the stopper is hollow and is provided with an internally open cavity. Thus the stopper acts in part as an elastic member subjected to the carbon dioxide pressure within the vessel or even the gas-expansion pressures resulting from the increase in temperature of the contents and presses the wall of the hollow shank of the stopper outwardly against the wall of the bunghole to increase the sealing effectiveness. Furthermore, the region surrounding the weakened zone may be formed in the end wall as in inwardly tapering frustoconical socket whose base is the weakened zone and which has a taper conforming to that of the shank of the cock.

According to another feature of this invention, this stopper is formed with a threaded shank engaging the internal thread along the wall of the bunghole so that the stopper may be readily clamped in place. Between the round head of the stopper and the reinforced wall of the bunghole, I provide a resiliently compressible sealing ring which prevents escape of the carbon dioxide from the beer, the head of the stopper having a noncircular recess adapted to receive a socket wrench, screwdriver, Allen wrench or other key enabling the stopper to be partly withdrawn for venting the vessel and to be thereafter closed. The most desirable dimensions of the beer container are such that its average diameter is approximately 200 mm., its length is of the order of 275 mm. and its wall thickness is 2 to 3 mm., the container having a capacity of about 6 liters. This container has numerous advantages, namely, it is especially satisfactory for supplying the needs of a small group of consumers, it is not too heavy to transport it readily when filled, it can be made and filled economically and without special handling procedures, it is easily cooled and stored in refrigerators, it can be emptied conveniently and drained at any desired rate without affecting the taste of the beer remaining, and it creates no problem of return of the package.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an end view of the bunghole of a receptacle in acocrdance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an axial cross-sectional view of the bunghole showing the stopper in elevation;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bunghole stopper in accordance with a modification;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through a portion of an end wall of the receptable showing the weakened zone for receiving this stop cock; and

FIG. 5 is a partly cross-sectional elevational view of a beer container in accordance with my present invention.

Referring first to FIG. 5, it will be seen that the disposable beer container 11 has an outwardly bulging annular wall 22 molded with a peripheral recess 23 to resemble an encircling barrel band and stave-like contours 24, and is composed of an opaque synthetic resin with end walls 25 and 26 integral with the annular wall 22. The end walls 25 and 26 are further provided with concentric reinforcing ribs 27 and are bowed slightly inwardly while four radial ribs extend at right angles to one another as represented at 28. The substantially cylindrical wall 22 is provided with a bunghole 12 closed by means of a hollow stopper 13. The bunghole 12 is internally threaded at 17 and reinforced by an axial rib 21 whose wall thickness is at least twice the wall thickness of the container 11 and supports a sealing ring 29 which is clamped by the head 19 of the stopper 13 thereagainst. The stopper 13 is formed with a threaded hollow shank 16 whose cavity 30 opens into the receptacle 11 so that pressure within the receptacle spreads the threaded shank 16 outwardly against the wall of the bunghole 12.

The periphery of the head 19 is provided with recesses 20 in a nonround pattern for engagement with a key or wrench which tightens the stopper 13 into the bunghole 12 and may serve to remove the stopper. Alternatively, a hexagonal socket 31 may be provided in the head 19 to receive an Allen wrench or hexagonal key. The key permits rapid opening and closing of the stopper 13.

End wall 25 is formed with an inwardly extending frusto-conical socket 32 whose base 9 is surrounded by the annular weakened portion 7 and can be ruptured by the stem 33 of a dispensing cock 34, the spout of which is indicated at 35 and which has a dispensing handle 36. The stem 33 has a taper complementarily to the convergence of the socket 32. When the cook 34 is inserted forcibly into the socket 32 and ruptures the thin-walled portion 7, 9, the stopper 13 may be backed out of the bunghole 12 'to vent the interior of the receptacle 11 to the atmosphere. Air can thus flow into the receptacle when the handle 36 dispenses the beverage.

Other modifications of the bunghole, stopper and weakened wall arrangement are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 although the general outlines of the container are, of course, conform to that shown in FIG. 5. The wall thickness should range from 2 to 3 mm. while the diameter ranges from 194 to 196 mm. and the total length is, say, 280 mm.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the annular wall portion 1 of the receptacle is formed with a bunghole 2 of inwardly convergent configuration, the bunghole being lined with a ridge 37 whose wall thickness is two to three times that of wall 1. The stopper 3, which is here forced by hand into a bunghole after the filling of the receptacle, has a circular flange 38 forming the head of the stopper and overlying the ridge 37. The hollow frustoconical shank 39 of the stopper fits smoothly into the bunghole 2 and terminates in a resiliently deflectable lower rim 40 which prevents withdrawal of the stopper after it has been driven into place. An inwardly open concavity 41 is provided in the stopper 3 so that the gases within the vessel spread the wall thereof generally outwardly.

In FIG. 3, I show a modified stopper 3', having an internal bore 42 in which an outwardly tapering plug 4 is driven prior to insertion of the stopper 3' into the bunghole. Again, an angular concavity 5 of the stopper 3' opens into the receptacle and permits the periphery of the stopper 3' to be urged against the wall of the bunghole under the gass pressure within the vessel. The stopper is driven in the direction of arrow A into the bunghole and remains permanently lodged therein. The venting of the receptacle to the atmosphere is permitted in the case of the stopper of FIG. 2, by perforating the wall 38 of the stopper and, in the case of the stopper of FIG. 3, by driving the plug 4 inwardly.

In FIG. 4, I show an alternative arrangement for the weakened Wall portion 7, 9, the system here including a disk 9 integral with the wall 1' and surrounded by a rib 10 anchored to this wall. The disk 9 is recessed inwardly of the wall 1 and is connected thereto by a thin-walled frangible membrane 7 which, when the shank 8 of the cockis driven in the direction of arrow B through the Wall 1', forms a discharge port 6 in which the cock is fixed. The cock may be removed when the receptacle is emptied for disposal thereof. Filling of the receptacle is carried out by the usual apparatus through the bunghole which is closed by the stopper 3, 3' or 13. For emptying, the cock is inserted as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 and the bunghole vented to the atmosphere. The container may,

of course, also be used for the dispensing and transport of wines, fruit drinks and the like when acid-resistant resins are employed.

I claim:

1. A disposable container for beer and other liquids, comprising a unitary synthetic-resin receptacle having an annular wall and a pair of end walls integral therewith; means forming in said receptacle a bunghole along said annular wall; a stopper received in said bunghole; and means forming in one of said end walls a weakened zone rupturable to receive a dispensing cock, said stopper being composed of synthetic resin and having an outwardly divergent frustoconical wall receivable in said bunghole and a pair of flanges permanently anchoring said stopper in said receptacle, said stopper being further provided with an outwardly converging frnstoconicalbore and including an outwardly tapering plug received in said bore and adapted to be driven inwardly into said receptacle for opening same to the atmosphere.

2. The container defined in claim 1 wherein said means forming said weakened zone is an inwardly extending hollow frustoconical socket molded integrally in said one of said end walls of said receptacle and having said weakened zone at the base of said socket.

3. The container defined in claim 1 wherein said weakened zone is defined by an annular wall portion of a reduced thickness.

4. The container defined in claim 1 wherein said weakened zone is defined by a disk of synthetic resin integral with said one of said end walls and offset inwardly thereof.

5. The container defined in claim 1 wherein said weakened zone is surrounded along an inner surface of said One of said end walls by a reinforcing rib on said one of said end walls.

6. The container defined in claim 1 wherein said stopper is hollow and has a concavity opening into said receptacle.

7. The container defined in claim 1 wherein the means defining said bunghole includes a circular ridge having a thickness in excess of the wall thickness of the receptacle.

8. The container defined in claim 1 wherein said receptacle is generally barrel-shaped, said weakened zone is provided in said one of said end walls adjacent the junction of said annular wall therewith, and said receptacle has a length on the order or 275 mm., an average diameter of approximately 200 mm. and a wall thickness of 2 to 3 mm.

9. A disposable beer container comprising a unitary synthetic-resin receptacle having an annular outwardly bulging wall and a pair of end walls monolithically integral therewith; means forming in said receptacle a hunghole in said annular wall; a stopper received in said bunghole; and means forming in one of said end walls at a location adjacent said annular wall and diametrically opposite said -bunghole a weakened zone rupturable to receive a dispensing cock, said end walls being dished inwardly and provided along the interior of said receptacle a plurality of reinforcing ribs, the last-mentioned means including an inwardly tapering wall monolithically integral with said one of said end walls and defining an inwardly tapering recess therein, said weakened zone being constituted as a disk of synthetic resin closing the base of said recess and monolithically integral with said inwardly tapering wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,772,017 11/1956 Rieke 220-27 2,787,397 4/ 1957 Radford 220-5 2,962,185 11/1960 Starr et al. 220-39 2,969,161 l/1961 McCulloch 217-106 3,115,281 12/1963 Somme 220-5 XR 3,266,491 8/1966 Koslow -.5 XR 3,294,271 12/ 1966 Armbruster 220-5 FOREIGN PATENTS 954,454 4/ 1964 Great Britain. 1,117,219 2/1956 France.

266,879 l/ 1913 Germany.

RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

